Death Wish 6: The Face of Paul Carpenter

My colleague Paul Carpenter is a pretty big movie buff, and I'm sure he's seen at least some of the films in the well-known "Death Wish" franchise featuring Charles Bronson as vigilante hero Paul Kersey. I had to Google the series to find that there have been five installments, that last being "Death Wish V: The Face of Death" in 1994, 20 years after the debut of the original.

As Paul himself readily admits in today's column, he has a death wish of his own, in a sense, or at least he sometimes acts like it, routinely barging into the marked pedestrian crosswalk leading across Sixth Street in front of our office here in Allentown, even in the face of oncoming traffic.

The law gives him the right to do that, but as I've told him more than once, he's liable to end up dead, at which point officials will conclude that he had the law on his side. For as much good as that would do him.

I bring all this up to make a few points. It's true that pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections (with or without marked crosswalks) and at marked mid-block crosswalks in Pennsylvania, and probably everywhere else. It has to be that way. The state must protect pedestrians, simply because of the laws of physics. Even Homer Simpson couldn't screw up that logic.

But that's not to say that stepping into oncoming traffic just because you have the legal right to do so is a wise thing to do, or the right thing. In many instances, I consider it clueless and rude. An exception: If there's simply no break in traffic flow apparent for a long period, it might be reasonable to step carefully into the walk to stop traffic, particularly if a number of pedestrians are waiting. This could happen especially at a time when many people regularly leave work -- 5 p.m., for example.

For most of the day, however, it makes more sense for one or a few pedestrians to check for traffic as they approach the crosswalk. If one or several cars approach, the hoofers can wait for a moment or two for the vehicles to pass, and then cross safely.

That way, one or more gas-burning, air-polluting vehicles can continue without stopping; when stopped, they're burning an infinite amount of fuel per mile, and spewing whatever emerges from the tailpiple into the air. Pedestrians, meanwhile, pollute little, if at all. As a side-road issue, the traffic signals on Sixth Street are synchronized; walkers that stop vehicles unnecessarily might throw them out of synch with the lights, forcing them to stop repeatedly as they continue on Sixth.

In short, it's a matter of being reasonable and keeping some priorities regarding energy and environmental conservation in order. Pedestrians who justifiably complain about motorists too pressed for time to stop for them in crosswalks also should also consider how much a hardship it would be to wait a few seconds for the gas-guzzlers to pass. I often stand back from the curb far enough to make clear that I do not intend to cross, allowing drivers to pass by, avoiding confusion (which is always a danger on the roadways).

A couple final points: While it does protect pedestrians, Pennsylvania law also saddles them with specified responsibilities. Section 3543 (a): "Every pedestrian crossing at any other point than within a crosswalk at an intersection or any marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway."

The shortcut version: Outside of intersections or marked mid-block crosswalks, motor vehicles have the right-of-way over pedestrians.

Also, anywhere on any street, it is forbidden for pedestrians to dart into the street -- even at a crosswalk -- without warning. Section 3542 (b): "No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute a hazard."

I suppose Paul's practice doesn't qualify as "suddenly" leaving the curb. It's more a kind of intentional blundering into the crosswalk.

But if I were a lawyer defending a driver cited for failing to stop for Paul, I'd sure lay the "suddenly leaving the curb" claim on the judge, who might not be one of Paul's legion of fans.

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Current Comments

Hey Dan, I was in Macungie Friday evening at the entrance to the park. Their is a crosswalk there with lights in the roadway, activated buy pedestrians. As I watched 2 people try to cross they made it to the center lane and 5 cars went past before they could continue. Clearly you are at risk, no matter what, when you cross a busy street.

Posted By: Matt Pramik | Jan 19, 2014 10:07:41 AM

As a former Morning Call employee, I saw Mr. Carpenter "blunder" into the street several times. He walked out without taking much time to check to see if traffic even had time to safely stop. I'd think a lawyer could make a good case that he "suddenly" enters the street...not that it will matter after he's been hurt, as you point out.

Posted By: jenn | Jan 19, 2014 9:29:45 PM

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about this blog

Morning Call Reporter and Columnist Dan Hartzell is The Road Warrior, defending the drivers of the Lehigh Valley and the roads on which they drive. E-mail questions about transportation in the Lehigh Valley and beyond to hartzell@mcall.com.